Couple go for win with youth sports 'getaway'

Local stars get attention, not big-name athletes

By TIM O'BRIEN Staff writer

Published 1:00 am, Sunday, November 29, 2009

Photo: CINDY SCHULTZ

Image 1of/2

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 2

Business owners Tom and Gail Alverson pose in their sports-themed restaurant, "The Getaway," in Clifton Park in November, 2009. The restaurant caters to families and features local sports, rather than professional athletes and teams. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) less

Business owners Tom and Gail Alverson pose in their sports-themed restaurant, "The Getaway," in Clifton Park in November, 2009. The restaurant caters to families and features local sports, rather than ... more

Photo: CINDY SCHULTZ

Image 2 of 2

Here's a view of the games, jukebox and sports paraphernalia at "The Getaway" in Clifton Park, owned by Tom and Gail Alverson, which caters to families. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Here's a view of the games, jukebox and sports paraphernalia at "The Getaway" in Clifton Park, owned by Tom and Gail Alverson, which caters to families. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Photo: CINDY SCHULTZ

Couple go for win with youth sports 'getaway'

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

CLIFTON PARK — Tom and Gail Alverson wanted to give students a getaway where they could watch sports, celebrate after games, play pinball or Ms. Pac Man and not have to be at a bar.

So the Shenendehowa graduates opened The Getaway, a family restaurant with a sports theme. The difference is, all the jerseys and sports photos on the walls are from local youth teams.

Located at Clifton Park Center, the restaurant is inviting its customers to bring in trading card-style photos many youth sports leagues sell to their athletes.

"We trade them for a free drink," Tom Alverson said. "Once we get enough of them, we're going to laminate them onto the tabletops so you might see your neighbors' kids. We want the kids to come in and see their stuff, not Eli Manning or the Pittsburgh Steelers."

The restaurant opened Oct. 1. While the business is new, the couple are familiar faces to many of the youths they serve.

"We've been running concession stands for Clifton Park baseball and softball," Tom said. "We were looking for something to do year round."

He drove past the Clifton Park Center location and got the idea for The Getaway.

"We wanted some place unique," he said. "I thought 'What about a sports bar for kids?' "

Tom had been a truck driver, regularly making cross country trips, and wanted to work close to home.

Both he and his wife are Shenendehowa graduates, Tom in 1974 and Gail in 1983, so their love of Clifton Park sports comes naturally.

Between them, the couple have five children including their son Matthew, 12. Many of the jerseys on the wall are his and, yes, the redheaded boy in the baseball photo on the wall is Matthew.

Almost all the jerseys now displayed are from Clifton Park teams, but the couple said they are willing to hang ones from other Saratoga County teams.

"We tell them if you want to bring them in, we'll hang them up," Gail Alverson said.

In most restaurants, Tom said, young people get antsy to go home the moment they are done eating.

"Instead of being restless, ready to go home, they might drop some money in one of the video games," he said. "They love to sit at the bar and watch the game."

The "bar" sells sundaes not sloe gin fizzes. It is a long bench with a large screen TV overhead. The bar airs football games not available at most homes. The restaurant also boasts a jukebox, pinball machine (named The Getaway), and two video game machines equipped with Ms. Pac Man, Galaga and Frogger.

It's open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. If a football game is in progress, the crowd is not shown the door.

"On game nights, we stay open until the end of the game," Tom said.

The couple sell burgers, chicken, hot dogs and other family friendly fare. Their unusual offerings include fried Oreo sundaes and fried pickles. Given the tough economy and their aim to draw families, they try to keep prices low. A family of five recently ate dinner for $45, Tom said.

"We're just trying to make a living," he said. "We're not trying to make a killing."